U.S. patent application number 11/242559 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-05 for nose assembly for a fastener driving tool.
Invention is credited to Chris H. Porth, Yury Shkolnikov, Mariam Vahabi-Nejad, Barry C. Walthall.
Application Number | 20070075112 11/242559 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37728155 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070075112 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Porth; Chris H. ; et
al. |
April 5, 2007 |
Nose assembly for a fastener driving tool
Abstract
A fastener driving tool includes a sleeve defining a cylinder
for accommodating a reciprocating piston and a driver blade for
driving a fastener into a substrate. In addition, the tool includes
a nose assembly having a nosepiece associated with the sleeve and
is constructed and arranged for receiving and guiding the driver
blade as it drives the fastener into the substrate. The nosepiece
has a body including a first component made of one material and a
second component made of a second material.
Inventors: |
Porth; Chris H.; (Gurnee,
IL) ; Shkolnikov; Yury; (Glenview, IL) ;
Vahabi-Nejad; Mariam; (Chicago, IL) ; Walthall; Barry
C.; (Wheeling, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LISA M. SOLTIS;ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
3600 WEST LAKE AVENUE
GLENVIEW
IL
60026
US
|
Family ID: |
37728155 |
Appl. No.: |
11/242559 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
227/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25C 1/008 20130101;
B25C 1/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
227/107 |
International
Class: |
B25C 3/00 20060101
B25C003/00 |
Claims
1. A fastener driving tool, comprising: a sleeve defining a
cylinder for accommodating a reciprocating piston and a driver
blade for driving a fastener into a substrate; and a nose assembly
having a nosepiece associated with said sleeve and being
constructed and arranged for receiving and guiding the driver blade
as it drives the fastener into the substrate, said nosepiece having
a body including a first component made of one material and a
second component made of a second material.
2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said first component is made of
aluminum and said second component is made of steel.
3. The tool of claim 2, wherein said first component is integral
with said sleeve.
4. The tool of claim 1, wherein said nosepiece defines a channel
for receiving and guiding the fasteners.
5. The tool of claim 4, wherein the nose assembly further includes
a wear plate configured for reducing wear to said nosepiece and
being attachable to said tool between said first and second
components.
6. The tool of claim 5, wherein said wear plate is in registry with
said second component.
7. The tool of claim 5, wherein said wear plate further includes a
track in communication with said channel in said second component
for receiving and guiding the fastener as said driver blade drives
the fastener into the substrate.
8. The tool of claim 5, wherein said wear plate is secured to at
least one of said first and second nosepiece components by at least
one assembly fastener extending along a longitudinal axis of said
nosepiece.
9. The tool of claim 8, wherein said wear plate is secured between
said first and second components by at least one mating boss and
bore.
10. The tool of claim 8, wherein said wear plate further includes a
flange having at least one wear plate boss for receiving said at
least one assembly fastener and which is insertable into a first
component counterbore hole in said first component, said flange
further includes at least one wear plate counterbore hole on a side
opposite said wear plate boss, which passes through said flange and
is concentric with said wear plate boss.
11. The tool of claim 10, wherein said second component further
includes at least one second component boss which is insertable
into a corresponding said at least one wear plate counterbore
hole.
12. The tool of claim 11, wherein said first component, said wear
plate and said second component are secured to each other by at
least one assembly fastener which passes through at least one hole
in said first component, said wear plate counterbore hole and said
boss, and said second component counterbore hole in an axial
direction.
13. The tool of claim 4, wherein said nose assembly further
includes a wear plate configured for reducing wear to said
nosepiece and being attachable to said tool on a fastener receiving
surface of said first component.
14. The tool of claim 13, wherein said wear plate is secured to
said first component by at least one assembly fastener in a
transverse direction.
15. The tool of claim 5, wherein said wear plate includes a track
for guiding fasteners, and a laterally projecting wing on either
side of said track.
16. A fastener driving tool, comprising: a sleeve defining a
cylinder for accommodating a reciprocating piston and a driver
blade for driving a fastener into a substrate; a nose assembly
having a nosepiece associated with said sleeve and constructed and
arranged for receiving and guiding the fastener into the substrate,
said nosepiece having a body including a first component made of
one material and being integral with said sleeve and a second
component made of a second material, wherein said nosepiece defines
a channel for receiving and guiding the fasteners; and said nose
assembly further including a wear plate configured for reducing
wear to said nosepiece and being attachable to said tool axially
between said first and second components.
17. The tool of claim 16, wherein said wear plate is secured
between said first and second components by at least one mating
boss and bore.
18. A combustion powered fastener driving tool, comprising: a
sleeve defining a cylinder for accommodating a reciprocating piston
and a driver blade for driving a fastener into a substrate; a nose
assembly having a nosepiece associated with said sleeve and
constructed and arranged for receiving and guiding a fastener into
the substrate, said nosepiece having a body including a first
component made of one material and a second component made of a
second material, wherein said nosepiece defines a channel for
receiving and guiding the fastener; and said nose assembly further
including a wear plate configured for reducing wear to said
nosepiece and being attachable to said tool on a fastener receiving
surface of said first component; and said wear plate is secured to
the first component by at least one assembly fastener in a
transverse direction.
19. A fastener driving tool, comprising: a sleeve defining a
cylinder for accommodating a reciprocating piston and a driver
blade for driving a fastener into a substrate; a nose assembly
having a nosepiece associated with said sleeve and being
constructed and arranged for receiving and guiding the driver blade
as it drives the fastener into the substrate, said nosepiece having
a body including a first component made of one material and a
second component made of a second material; and a wear plate
configured for reducing wear to said first component upon assembly
of said nose assembly to said sleeve and being integral with said
second component.
20. The tool of claim 19, wherein said wear plate projects axially
from said second component to overlie and cover a surface of said
nosepiece of said first component.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to an improved nose assembly
for fastener driving tools, particularly those used for framing.
More specifically, the present invention relates to improvements of
the nosepieces for such tools.
[0002] While such tools are typically powered by pneumatic,
combustion, electric, or powder systems, and the present nose
assembly is contemplated as usable on fastener driving tools
regardless of the power system, the main focus will be on
combustion tools. Portable combustion powered fastener driving
tools, such as those manufactured by ITW Paslode under the
IMPULSE.RTM. brand, have been typically manufactured to operate
with an integrated aluminum die cast sleeve having an attached
nosepiece. Such tools incorporate a tool housing enclosing a small
internal combustion engine. The engine is powered by a canister of
pressurized fuel gas called a fuel cell. A battery-powered
electronic power control unit produces the spark for ignition, and
a fan located in the combustion chamber provides for both efficient
combustion within the chamber, and facilitates scavenging,
including the exhaust of combustion by-products.
[0003] The engine includes a reciprocating piston having an
elongate, rigid driver blade reciprocating inside the sleeve or
cylinder. Fasteners are fed to the nosepiece from a magazine where
they are held in a properly positioned orientation for receiving
the impact of the driver blade. Upon ignition of a gas/air-mixture,
the piston/driver blade is driven down the sleeve. A leading end of
the driver blade engages a fastener and drives it along a channel
defined by the nosepiece into the substrate. Next, the piston and
driver blade are returned to the original, pre-firing position by
differential gas pressures.
[0004] The tool absorbs considerable shock and vibration during and
after each actuation, in combustion tools known as a firing. In
addition, the impact forces generated during fastener driving cause
the tool to be propelled away from the fastener as it is driven
into the substrate. These forces put large stresses on many parts
of the tool, especially causing the nosepiece to wear quickly.
Extended wear to the nosepiece may cause the sleeve to break or
warp. When either the nosepiece or the sleeve has to be replaced
because they are bent or broken, a considerable amount of time and
money is required to repair the tool. This is because the nosepiece
includes many parts and requires extensive and sometimes
complicated disassembly.
[0005] In recent years, framing tools have become more powerful to
satisfy operator needs. As a result, higher power tools generate
greater stresses that weaken conventional nosepieces, causing
bending or even breaking of the sleeve or nosepiece or both.
Additionally, when the nosepiece bends or breaks, either the entire
tool has to be discarded or the nosepiece or sleeve or both have to
be replaced, which is expensive and time-consuming.
[0006] A further design factor is that higher power tools generate
more heat during operation. It is believed that, in addition to
operator discomfort, the heat plays a factor in premature tool
breakdowns. To facilitate heat dissipation, conventional sleeves
and nosepieces are made of aluminum, which has been found to be
relatively more prone to impact damage.
[0007] Thus, there is a need for an improved combustion tools which
addresses the above-identified design issues of impact wear, heat
dissipation, and maintenance costs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The above-listed needs are met or exceeded by the present
improved nosepiece for an internal combustion tool. First, the nose
assembly includes a nosepiece having a first component that is
integral with the sleeve and made of die cast aluminum for lower
tool weight and heat dissipation, and a second component preferably
made of steel for durability. The present nose assembly also
includes a wear plate made of steel for protecting the aluminum
portion. Also the present nose assembly allows for a reduction in
weight, compared to conventional nose assemblies used in pneumatic
tools. By using steel to construct the nosepiece's second component
and the wear plate, the durability of the nosepiece has been
increased. The steel wear plate protects the aluminum second
component from excessive wear and weakening generated by the higher
powered framing tools.
[0009] More specifically, a fastener driving tool is provided which
includes a sleeve defining a cylinder for accommodating a
reciprocating piston and a driver blade for driving a fastener into
a substrate. The fastener driving tool also includes a nose
assembly associated with the sleeve and constructed and arranged
for receiving and guiding the driver blade as it drives the
fastener into the substrate. Furthermore, the present nose assembly
includes a nosepiece having a body with a first component made of
one material and a second component made of a second material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a framing tool with portions
omitted for clarity;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective of a tool
with a first embodiment of the present nose assembly;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective of a tool
including a nose assembly according to a second embodiment; and
[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective of a tool
including a nose assembly according to a third embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] As seen in FIG. 1, a fastener driving tool is generally
designated 10. Although illustrated as a combustion tool, it is
contemplated that the fastener driving tool 10 may be pneumatic,
electric, powder activated, or any other type of automatic fastener
driving tool. The tool 10 includes a housing 12 where a combustion
chamber 14 (shown hidden), among other components, is located. In
addition, the tool 10 includes a workpiece contact element 16 and
trigger 18. The tool 10 also includes a depth adjuster 20; which
adjustably attaches an upper end of the workpiece contact element
16 and an upper probe or wire form 21 as is well known in the
art.
[0015] Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the fastener driving tool 10 of
the present invention includes a sleeve 22 located within the
housing 12 and defining a cylinder 24 (shown hidden) for
accommodating a reciprocating piston 26 (shown hidden) and a driver
blade 28. Regardless of whether the tool 10 is combustion or
pneumatic powered, the piston 26 and the driver blade 28 are
designed for driving a fastener 30 into a substrate or workpiece
32. The substrate 32 may be any material such as metal, wood or
plastic to name just a few.
[0016] FIG. 2 depicts the present fastener driving tool 10 with a
nose assembly 34 according to a first embodiment. Included in the
nose assembly 34 is a nosepiece 36 that is associated with the
sleeve 22. More specifically, the nosepiece 36 is constructed and
arranged for receiving and guiding the driver blade 28 as it drives
the fastener 30 into the substrate 32. Also, the nosepiece 36
receives fasteners 30 from a magazine 37 (FIG. 1). In most
combustion powered tools, when both the workpiece contact element
16 and the trigger 18 are actuated, a gas/air mixture in the
combustion chamber 14 is ignited. During combustion, the
reciprocating piston 26 and driver blade 28 move axially within the
sleeve 22 toward the substrate 32. As the driver blade 28 is forced
out of the sleeve 22, it contacts the fastener 30 and drives the
fastener along the nosepiece 36 and into the substrate 32. To
facilitate this operation, the nosepiece 36 defines a channel 38
which receives and guides the driver blade 28 so that the driver
blade properly drives the fastener 30.
[0017] In addition, the nosepiece 36 includes a body 39 which has a
first component 40 made of one material and a second component 42
made of a second material. In the preferred embodiment, the first
component 40 depends from a lower end 44 of the sleeve 22, and is
preferably integral with the sleeve, being made of cast aluminum or
aluminum alloy. The second component 42 is preferably made of
steel, steel alloy, or other equivalent durable material and can be
manufactured in any number of processes such as being cast, forged
or machined. However, it is contemplated that the first component
40 is made of a separate piece and of a distinct material compared
to the sleeve 22.
[0018] The use of aluminum to form the sleeve 22 is important
because of aluminum's intrinsic properties. Aluminum is lighter in
weight relative to its durability than many other types of metals.
This is important because the sleeve 22 is such a large component
relative to the overall tool 10, and using other heavier metals
results in a tool that is unwieldy and uncomfortable to use and/or
carry. In addition, aluminum dissipates heat quickly, which is
important for maintaining operational efficiency and user comfort
during extended tool operation.
[0019] The issue of tool weight arises when the sleeve 22 is
constructed from several different components, because fasteners
and other securing members must be used to attach all the
components to each other. Also, the resulting assembly process for
such tools is more complex. These problems arise frequently with
pneumatic tools. In contrast, the present sleeve 22 does not suffer
from these problems because the sleeve is unitarily constructed of
cast aluminum, creating a lightweight yet durable component.
[0020] The depth adjuster 20 is configured for selecting the depth
the fastener 30 is driven into the substrate 32, and, as is known
in the art, adjusts the relative axial position of the workpiece
contact element 16 with the nosepiece 36.
[0021] As seen in FIG. 2, the nose assembly 34 further includes a
wear plate 46 configured for reducing wear to the nosepiece 36,
especially to the first (preferably aluminum) component 40. The
generally planar wear plate 46 is preferably attachable to the tool
10 between the first and second components 40, 42. Most preferably,
as seen in FIG. 2, a portion of the wear plate 46 is vertically
sandwiched between the first and second components 40, 42. This
configuration allows the forces generated from driving the fastener
30 to be exerted on the wear plate 46 and the second component 42,
instead of the less durable first component 40.
[0022] The wear plate 46 further includes a generally axially
extending, radially recessed track 48 that overlies the first
component 40 and is in communication with the channel 38 defined by
the second component 42. The track 48 and the channel 38 provide
two important functions. First, they protect the first component 40
from the forces created by driving the fastener 30. Second, the
track 48 and channel 38 receive and guide the fastener 30 and the
driver blade 28 along the nosepiece 34 so that the operator may
accurately fire the fastener into the substrate 32.
[0023] In addition, the wear plate 46 is in registry or is flush
with both the first and the second components 40, 42, so the driver
blade 28 and the fastener 30 have a smooth path as they travel
along the track 48 and the channel 38. It is contemplated, however,
that the wear plate 46 and the second component 42 may not
necessarily be in registry, specifically meaning that the track 48
is laterally displaced relative to the channel 38. This is
acceptable as long as the driver blade 28 and the fastener 30 can
still travel down the track 48 and, the channel 38 without losing
power and accuracy. Adjacent the track 48 preferably on each side
is a laterally projecting wing 49 providing support for the track
and additional protection for an opposing surface of the first
component 40.
[0024] The wear plate 46 is secured to, and preferably vertically
between, the first and second components 40, 42 by at least one
assembly fastener 50 extending along a longitudinal axis of the
nosepiece 36. The assembly fastener 50 may be, for example, a
screw, bolt, or any other equivalent type of securing device.
[0025] The wear plate 46 further includes a flange 52 projecting
transversely from the track 48 and having at least one wear plate
boss 54 for receiving the assembly fastener 50, and which is
insertable into a first component counterbore hole 56 in the first
component 40. At least one wear plate counterbore hole 58 passes
through the flange 52 and is concentric with the wear plate boss
54. The second component 42 further includes at least one second
component boss 60 which is insertable into the corresponding wear
plate counterbore hole 58.
[0026] It will be seen that the first component 40, the wear plate
46 and the second component 42 are secured to each other by the at
least one assembly fastener 50, which passes through a second
component counterbore hole 62 and the second component boss 60, the
wear plate counterbore hole 58 and the wear plate boss 54, and the
first component counterbore hole 56 in an axial direction. This
construction allows the wear plate 46 and the second component 42
to receive most of the impact and force when the driver blade 28
and the fastener 30 travel down the track 48 and the channel
38.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the present nose
assembly is shown and generally designated 64 connected to the tool
10. Like reference numerals will be used to describe the like parts
with respect to the first embodiment.
[0028] In the second embodiment, most of the components are
substantially the same except for the nose assembly 64, a wear
plate 66, a sleeve 68, a nosepiece 70, and a first component 72. As
seen in FIG. 3, the wear plate 66 is configured for reducing wear
to the nosepiece 70, however, the wear plate 66 is not sandwiched
between the first component 72 and the second component 42.
Instead, the wear plate 66 is attached to the tool 10 on a fastener
receiving surface 74 of the first component 72. As in the first
embodiment, the first component 72 is preferably integral with the
aluminum sleeve 68. This configuration allows for easy installation
or removal of the wear plate 66. More specifically, the wear plate
66 may be removed or installed without disassembling the first
component 72 and the second component 42 of the nosepiece 70.
[0029] As seen in FIG. 3, the wear plate 66 is secured to the first
component 72 by at least one assembly fastener 76 in a transverse
direction. More specifically, the wear plate 66 has at least one
attachment hole 78 and the first component 72 has a countersunk
hole 80, both of which are constructed and arranged for receiving
the at least one assembly fastener 76 therethrough. The assembly
fastener 76 may be, for example, a screw, bolt or other equivalent
type of fastener.
[0030] Another difference between the assemblies 34 and 64 is that
the second component 42 is secured to directly to the first
component 72 by the at least one assembly fastener 50. The assembly
fastener 50 may be, for example, a screw, bolt or any other
equivalent type of fastener. The boss 60 on the second component 42
matingly engages the counterbore 56 in the first component 72.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 4, a third embodiment of the present nose
assembly is shown and generally designated 84 connected to the tool
10. Like reference numerals will be used to describe the like parts
with respect to the first embodiment.
[0032] In the third embodiment, most of the differences between the
nose assemblies 34 and 84 relate to the construction of a second
component 86 and a wear plate 88, forming a nosepiece 90. As in the
case of the nose assembly 34, the fasteners 50 extend along the
longitudinal axis of the nose assembly 84. As seen in FIG. 4, the
second component 86 and the wear plate 88 are integral with each
other and form one unitary structure 92 which protects the first
component 40 and the sleeve 22 from excessive wear. In addition, as
in the nose assembly 34, the first component 40 is preferably
integral with the aluminum sleeve 22. This configuration allows for
easy installation or removal of the nose assembly 84. More
specifically, the unitary structure 92 formed by the second
component 86 and the wear plate 88 may be removed or installed
easily by removing the at least one assembly fastener 50.
[0033] While particular embodiments of the present nose assembly
for a fastener driving tool has been described herein, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and
modifications may be made thereto without departing from the
invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following
claims.
* * * * *